Valve for airbags



Sept. 6, 1932- c; VAN RENNES 1,375,782

VALVE FOR AIRBAGS Filed April 4. 1950 3mm Cornelia Vim Rermes PatentedSept. 6, 1932 UNITED TATE- B TE-N1 orrrcef CORNELIS van mum orrrusnme,m'w YOBK,IASSIGINOR TQ ms GOJODYEAR TIRE a5;

& RUBBER company, or AKRON, onro, A CORPORATION or onro;

VA VE non Masses Application filed 'April 4, 1930. "Serial No. 441,483.

This invention relates to inflatable contalners employed as lnterlorsupports for pneumatic t1re caslngs dur ng vulcanlzatlon of the latter,and it has particular-relation to an improved form of valve stem-whichcomprises a part of the container.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve stem for an inflatablerubber container of the above-designated type, which will nor mallyprevent the dischargeof fluid in the airbag employed for preventingdeterioration of the rubber in the container during the vulcanizing oftires. 7 I

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve stem for aninflatable container, including a device for accomplishing the aforesaidobject, which is inexpensive and readily replaceable if the latterbecomes nee essary. At the present time inflatable containers orso-called airbags, composed of rubber, are provided for supporting theinner surface of pneumatic tire casings during vulcanizing' of thelatter. Each airbag is employed repeatedly and, consequently, isrepeatedly subjected to vulcanizing temperatures. Hence, it isdesirable, if not necessary, that some means be provided for preventingover-curing of the walls of the airbag. One method practiced at thepresent time for preventing over-curing of the walls of the airbag,involves the use of glycerine which is injected into the airbag. Theglycerine to a large extent, prevents the heat within the airbagfromover-curing the rubber therein and also prevents oxidation of thelatter. One'objection to the use of fluid of this character is thatfrequently it flows through the valve stem and contacts withunvulcanized rubber products located in the vicinity of the airbagparticularly during insertion of the latter into the tire, andvulcanization of those portions of the unvulcanized rubber productswhich have come in contact with the fluid is retarded. Consequently,uniform vulcanization of such products is prevented.

This invention comprises a simple and efficient means for preventing thedischarge of the glycerine from the airbag and, consequently, avoids theaforesaid difliculties incidental to the use of fluids of thischaracter. Particularly, the invention comprises a hen: cal'springdisposed in the valve stem of the airbag, and which projectssubstantiallyfinto the interiorof the bag. The convolutions of thespring are closely wound, and the-portion of the spring projecting intothe interior'of.

the bag, prevents the glycerine from flowing into the opening in theinner end of the valve stem; Another advantage which follows from .theuse of aspring is that the end of the latter projecting into the airbag,is flex ible, and, consequently, any deformation of the walls of theairbag, which causes such walls to'contact with the inner end of thespring, will not:result in any damage to such" walls. The outer end ofthe spring is pro-.

vided with a collar contacting with the outer end of the valve stem andis maintained in position by an adapting member threaded upon the outerend of the valve stem and en'-' gaging the" collar. It is apparent thatthe spring is readily removable and that a new spring may be insertedinto the valvestein, should for any reason a spring fail during itsuse.a r For a better. understanding ofrthe inven tion, reference may now behad to the accompanyihgdrawing' in which. the figure is a Vcross-sectional view of an'airbag employed during the v'ul'canizing oftires, embodying a device constructed according to one formof thisinvention. V

- Referring to the figure, an airbag 10jisprovi'ded witha valvestemj llhaving an opening 12 extending: throughout its length; The outerend ofthe valvestem is threaded as indicated at 13 for receiving a threadedadapting member which serves asa connec-i tion between the valvestem-anda conduit (not shown) communicating witha sourceof air or othersimilarmedium highly ;compressed.- During the vulcanizing" of tires,usually air under hig pressure is supplied to the interior of theairbagQA helical sp ring l is disposed in theopening'12 in the valve stem 11,and has a portion l6-projectingsubstantially into the interior of theairbag, as for exampleya distanceof three' fourths of an inch. The coilsotthe ita 3o stem from flowing through the opening 12,

spring 51 are closely wound and constitute a flexible tubular memberhaving walls which substantially prevent any fluid from flowing betweenthe convolutions thereof. Such a sprlng is highly efficient particularlywhere gFycerine and other viscous fluids are employedwhich do notreadily flow through small interstices. The opposite end of the springis welded or otherwise rigidly secured as indicated at 17', to a collar18 normally abutting the outer end of the valve stem 11.,

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the collar 18is"provided with a tapered or conical end surface 19 which is adapted tocontact with a complementarysurfac'e'20 -provided in an opening 21in'the end 'of the adapting .member' 14 threaded upon the valve stem. Itisapparent that by turning the adapting member in the direction whichthreadsit uponthe valve stem, the collar 20. may be forcefullyv movedagainst the outer end of the valve stem, and

any leakage of air past the collar thereby pre'-- vented. Manifestly,the collar may be of various shapes and the adapting membercor-.respondingly constructed to secure the collar in position.

' The pro ecting end portion 16 of the spring I 15 effectively preventsany glycerine'which collects 'adjacent'the inner end of the valve andthus 'discharging'through the latter.

Since the projecting portion '16 of the spring 15 is flexbile, itwillnot injure thegwalls, of the airbag'contacting there-with duringdeformation of the latter andthis arrangement 1 obviates the injuriouseffects which heretoother similar fluids in airbags.

fore resulted from the use of glycerine or Although only the preferredform of the invention has been described and illustrated; it will beapparent to thoseskilledin the art that the invention is notso limitedbut that various modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting fromthe. spirit of the in.- vention or from the scopetof the appendedclaims. r

.What I claim is:

the valve stem and projecting into the interior of the container.

4. The combination with an inflatable container having a tubular valvestem communicating with the interior of the container, of a helicalspring disposed in the opening in the valve stem and projecting into theinterior of the container, the convolutions of the spring being closelywound to provide a tubular wall substantially impervious 5 to liquids.

. 5. The combination with an inflatable container having a tubular valvestem communicating with the interior of the container, of ahelicalspring disposed in the opening in the valve stem and projectingintothe'interior of the container, said spring having a collarsecuredthereto for removable engagement with the end of the valve stem.

.6. The combination with an inflatable con tainer having a tubular valvestem communicating-with the interior of the container, of a closelywound helical springdisposed" in the opening in the valve stem, andprojecting into the'interior of the container, said spring having acollar on its outer endfor removable engagement with the end of thevalve stem.

7 The combination with an inflatable cont-ainer havinga tubular valvestem comm-unicating with the interior of the container, of ahelicalspring disposed in the openingin the valve stem and projecting into theinterior of the container, said spring having a collar secured theretofor removable engagement with the end of the valve stem, and means forholding the collar against the end of the valve stem. l

o In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. i a Signed atJamaica, in the county of Queens and State-of New York, U. S. A.', this27 day of March, 1930. i v

- COBNELIS'VAN RENNES.

ing in the valve stem and projecting a sub- 7 stantial distance into theinterior of the container.

. 3.. The combination with an-inflatable con tainer having a tubularvalve stem communieating with the interior of the container, of

ahelical; spring disposed in the opening in

